Hitching-strap attachment



(No Model.)

H. DE V. PRATT, Jr. HITGHING STRAP ATTACHMENT.

Patented Feb. 11,1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARDEN DEV. PRATT, JR, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK.

HlTCHlNG-STRAP ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 420,958, dated February11, 1890.

Application filed December 7, 1889- Serial No. 332,889. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARDEN DEV. PRATT, J r., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Elmira, in the county of Ohemung and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inIIitching-Straps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention consists in the improved hitching-strap and its mode ofattachment to the bridle,hereinafterto be described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bit, bit-ring,and portion of the bridle, together with my improved strap and itsfastening in position. Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the strap andfastening.

Throughout the drawings like referenceletters refer to like parts.

In the present method of attaching hitching-straps to the bridle of ahorse there are few devices which combine the necessary qualities ofstrength, simplicity, and readiness of attachment. The ordinarysnap-hook is weak and difficult to handle in cold weather when thedrivers hands are protected by thick gloves. Moreover, this, in commonwith other modes of attachment, acts only upon one portion of thebit-ring, and when the horse jerks his head to one side the strain isapt to break the said ring or twist it from the bit.

In my invention the hitching-strap B is permanently attached to thecircular plate A by means of a staple Cor in some other suitable manner.This circular plate A is of a size slightly larger in diameter than thebit-ring F, andhas a portion of its circumference cut away, leaving aspace a, so that when the strap B is passed through the ring F and theplate A is brought up against said ring the end of the bit-bar II willcome opposite the cut-away portion a and will not displace the plate Afrom its position, which it tends to assume concentric with the ring F.

In the preferred form of my invention the central portion of the plate Ais cut away,

leaving a rectangular opening a. This is not necessary, but is desirableas rendering the plate A lighter without in any way detract ing from itsstrength.

inserting the end of the strap through the bitring and pulling itthrough until the plate A comes to a bearing against the ring. It slipsinto place between the ring and the side of the horses head, andpresents a smooth surface to the skin of the animal, all danger ofchafing being avoided. Whenever any strain is put upon the strap it isevenly divided over the entire ring F and the same enabled to resistthat strain to its best advantage, and will not be broken or twisted, asis frequently the case when the hitching-strap is attached to only oneportion of the circumference of said ring. There are no springs orcatches to get out of order and no nicety of manipulation required.

Having therefore described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto protect by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the bit-ring of a bridle,of a circularplate,which is of a slightlygreater diameter than said ring, and whichhas a portion of its circumference cut away, a staple in said plate,which is adapted to pass through said ring, and a hitchin -strapattached to said staple, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the bit-ring of a bridle,of a circularplate,which is of a slightlygreater diameter than said ring, and whichhas a portion of its circumference cut away, and a hitching-strapattached to said plate and passed through said ring, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IIARDEN DEV. PRATT, JR.

Witnesses:

CHARLES W. STUART, I'I. Honms MILLS.

